The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Review

Ah, Peter Jackson. You sly son of a gun. Let’s hear it for him, people. He split one short book into three. Actual. Movies. And they were like three hours long each. Dang, that takes talent. If only it had worked. Yeah, that’s right. We all knew (except for me, as I was a wee lad at the mere age of thirteen or something) that there was absolutely no way this movie could live up to the hype. Congratulations, we were all right. Except for me, of course. I was wrong. That’s not to say that this movie is an atrocious wasteland of absolute filth like Batman & Robin. Compared to that movie, An Unexpected Journey is basically Return of the King or The Dark Knight. But heck, even a terrible movie like Star Trek: Nemesis could claim that honor. So, on to the review.

An Unexpected Journey opens in dazzling fashion, with the infamous Smaug (does anyone know how you actually pronounce his name?) destroying Erebor. Soon enough, the dwarves arrive and the quest has begun. What is it I don’t like about this movie? Honestly, it’s hard to explain. Maybe it’s just that I expected too much from it. But honestly, I think it’s the underdeveloped characters, the rushed plot, and the fact that the movie tries to do way too much and tie the movie in to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It’s just not necessary. Everyone who went to see this movie knew that it was part of the same story. Ultimately, the film focuses too much on plot points that were invented and not enough on fundamental ones. It had no emotional depth whatsoever, with the exception of, like, two one-minute scenes. The Hobbit is not a story on the epic scale of Lord of the Rings. Nobody wanted it to be. Honestly, I think Peter Jackson tried way too hard.

That’s not to say I hate this movie. I don’t. It’s an okay movie, just not at all what it’s hyped up to be. The acting is excellent, particularly from Martin Freeman, who obviously steals the show here. Andy Serkis’s few minutes are also noteworthy. Howard Shore’s score is fabulous (yeah, he basically always is), and the effects are spectacular. Ultimately, though, An Unexpected Journey is a bit of a letdown. 3.5/5 stars.

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